 |
|
|
 |
|
Rationale:
- Clenched fist injuries where the metacarpophalangeal joint capsule is breached can lead to direct inoculation of bacteria
into the joint space or bone, resulting in septic arthritis or osteomyelitis.
- Inappropriate initial evaluation of a clenched fist wound can increase morbidity and may lead to amputation once infection
is established in the bone or tendon sheath.
- Both penetrating and blunt trauma from dog bites can result in damage to large vascular structures.
|
|
Evidence:
- A study of 100 consecutive human hand bites treated in one institution revealed 50 cases of septic arthritis, 22 cases of
osteomyelitis, and 18 amputations (23).
- Of eight children admitted to an institution with severe dog bite injuries, two had life-threatening injuries to the axillary
and carotid artery (5).
|
|
Comments:
|
| FAQs |
|
|
|
Daniel G. Federman, MD has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations.
Jeffrey D. Kravetz, MD has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations.
Steven E. Weinberger, MD, FACP, Acting Editor, PIER, has stock holdings in Glaxosmithkline and Abbott.
|
|
|
|
The information included herein should never be used as a substitute
for clinical judgment and does not represent an official position of
ACP. Because all PIER modules are updated regularly, printed web pages
or PDFs may rapidly become obsolete. Therefore, PIER users should
compare the date of the last update on the website with any printout
to ensure that the information being referred to is the most current
available.
|
PIER is copyrighted (c) 2009 by the American College of Physicians,
190 N. Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106-1572, USA.
|
|
|
Mammalian Bites
> Consultation for Diagnosis
